Help Drnick find his new towing truck

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drnickriviera

Platinum Member
Jan 30, 2001
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We already have a Ram 2500 diesel, but there are 2 problems. 1 it's not 4wd and we could really use that right now. 2. The engine will not take a vegie oil conversion. We're making biodiesel now, but we want to switch to oil burning.

So I can go older with the Dodges (the 12 valve engine), but those usually have a ton of miles and the low mile ones cost as much as a newer model. I could go Ford as well with the 7.3 Diesel. But then I got to thinking. If i'm going to tow, I might as well tow in style, so why not build what I want.

I like the old school Dodge power wagons
1967%20Dodge%20WM300%20Power%20Wagon.jpg


Problem is it would need to tow 12-14k lbs. I have no idea what those axles are rated for. I'd imagine I would have to box in the frame. Then slap in a 5.9L 12 valve cummins in there. It would get tight to put a big radiator and intercooler in that narrow front end.

Anyone have any other ideas for cool trucks I can look for? or is this a completely insane idea?
 
SooperDave

SooperDave

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Nov 18, 2009
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I don't think it's a good idea. When you are towing and especially something as heavy as you are describing (5th wheel?) the last thing you want to be is testing some prototype you fabbed up in your garage. You could wind up a few hundred miles from home needing a new tow rig.
 
skyking

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
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I belong to a few dodge cummins forums. One of the guys did a 12 valve transplant into a quad cab F350, it turned out very nice. It has a twin sequential turbos, and it could be converted to handle the veg.
I got a look at it this weekend at a big camp out. He did some nice work there. It hits 40 PSI of boost as fast as a stocker hits 20.

I think the big drawback of something cool like the old powerwagon is creature comforts. It has none. Every thing you take for granted you would have to add on.
Air conditioning? nope.
Comfortable seating? not at all.
Cruise? ha.
delay wipers, power door locks, windows, mirrors, you name it you will have to add it if you want it.
I have a 1996 2500 and tow a 10K 5th wheel, but no bio yet.
 
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drnickriviera

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Jan 30, 2001
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If any of you used to watch trucks with stacey david you may remember Sgt Rock
http://www.staceydavid.com/projects/sgtrock.html
That's a half ton version of the power wagon. The one pictured above is a W300 a one ton version so it's built tough already. It has a GVWR of 10k lbs so that should put the curb weight around 6-7k lbs. Which is right at the weight of my ram 2500. It would be used to tow around my excavator (9000lbs)

The crudeness of the truck is what I like. That is a truck you know was built for work, not these $40k trucks with 10 way power adjustable leather seats. I would add A/C, but that shouldn't be a problem. Another idea would be to use air bags to soften the ride.

I haven't found too many cool old trucks in the 1 ton range. There are plenty of half ton ones. I like the Unimog, but man those are expensive
 
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